


'in 



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[99] 



IN SENATE 

OF 

THE UNITED STATES, 



February 14, 1817. 



The committee appointed on so much of the Pre- 
sident's message as relates to roads and canals. 



REPORT IN PART. 



That on the general utility and national impor- 
tance of roads and canals, little remains tobp ad- 
ded to the stock of information now in possession 
of the Senate, and to be found in the several reports 
made on that subject. The committee, however, 
would observe in addition, that the present period 
appears to them peculiarly propitious and strongly 
invites to the commencement and prosecution 
of such a system of public improvement. To the 
pleasing prospect of peace abroad, we enjoy mu- 
tual confidence and tranquillity at home ; our re- 
sources are abundant; our public revenue ample; 
our citizens at all times evincing a willingness to 
make every sacrifice for the public good and on 
whom perfect reliance may be placed, more es- 
pecially when the contributions required must, 
when obtained and judiciously applied, promote 
their own interest, and add m an eminent degree 
to the wealth, comfort and safety of the nation ; 



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[99] 2 

and it appears to your committee that, the expe- 
rience dearly piuchased in the late war, shiuld 
not be regarded wjth indifference ; mucn ot the 
money expended in the necessary detence of the 
sei-board,as vveli as the hves ot many valuable 
citizens, would have been saved to the nation, had 
a good inland water communication i^^eo aiade on 
our atlantic frontier — the transportation of our 
armies, with all the munitions of war to the most 
vulnerable points would have beeii fav ili ated, 
and the advantages of the enemy arising from the 
celerity of his movements by water greatl) di- 
minished ; moreover, the pioducts of the west and 
south, consumed in the east and north, could have 
been transported secure from the common hazards 
of a sea voyage, and in defiance of blockading 
squadrons, and thus the inhabitans of the United 
States dispersed over a vast territory, embracing 
various climates suited to the productions ol all 
the necessaries and manvofthe luxuries of life, 
might even, in a state of war, rely with comfort 
and security on her own internal resources. 

To these advantages that refer themselves more 
especially to a state of war, must be added those, 
if possible, of a more imperative cliaracter tliat will 
at all times arise to the nation from an improved 
j&tate of her roads and inland navigation. The 
people of these United States are spread over an 
extensive territory, and that dispersion of inhabi- 
tants is keeping full paee with the increase of 
population ; and by a people thus dispersed, of 
different habits and pmsuits, and, in many in- 
stances, with discordant views, is the national so- 
vereignty exercised, and its fundamental powers 
directed; for, politically speaking, there is in the 
United States but one order or grade known — that 
of the people; and hence arises the imperious ne- 



i^ssily, in k government thus constituted, of tying 
together the whole community by the strongest 
ligatures. This, your committee believe, can be 
best efFec<ed by the construction of roads and 
canals ; by these means commercial and social in- 
tercourse will be made easy — industry, in all its 
branches encouraged by the increased rewards 
bestowed on every exertion — the love of country 
will be awakened, and a laudable spirit of national 
pride substituted in place of sectional jealousies — 
a community of interest and feeling will produce 
mutual confidence and alFection. Thus, being one 
people, the nation can have but one object in view — 
the continuance and preservation of a government 
founded in equity and justice, administered for the 
advantage of all, and calculated in the calm of 
peace to call forth talents and industry for the ac- 
quisition of property, and in war the surest gua- 
rantee for its security and protection. 

With these general observations on the national 
importance of internal improvements, your com- 
mittee w^iil endeavour to lay before the Senate a 
general outline of such public works, embracing 
the United States generally, and consulting, as far 
as practicable, the interest of each section of the 
Union; and which they conceive, in a further im- 
proved state of our national industry, may be com- 
pleted without embarrassment to the operations of 
the Treasury, or imposing additional burdens on 
the people. 

On the subject of national roads, the first that 
presents itself, and of primary importance, is a 
turnpike from Maine to Louisiana, passing through 
the seat of the national government, and the prin- 
cipal cities and towns on this route. 

Secondly ; roads to connect the highest naviga- 
ble points on tliP Atlantic: rivers, vAih such point? 



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on the corresponding streams 1 028 106 137 
northern and western lakes, akiu 
river and its branches. And, lastly, such military 
or other roads as mav serve to connect the scatter- 
ed settlements in our States or territories, with the 
more compact population of the interior, and there- 
by secure t!ie frontier settlements, in a great mea- 
sure, from hostile annoyance, and enhance the value 
of the public lands by inducing a more dense popu- 
lation. 

The other branch of this system of public im- 
provement, and equal, if not superior in impor- 
tance, is the construction of canals, and the im- 
provement of trie navigation of our rivers, 

1st An inland or shore navi<>:ation from the 
harbour of Boston, to the river St. Mary's, in 
Georgia — to connect these points, it is ascertained 
that not more than 100 miles will need the aid of 
canals, and from an estimate made by Mr. Gaila- 
tin when Secretary of the Treasury, will incur an 
expense little exceeding 3.000,000 of dollars, less 
it is believed than 200 dollars per mile, taking the 
whole distance of this water communication. 

2d. A canal from the Hudson or North River 
to lake Erie, and from that lake to some of the 
many navigable waters of the Ohio river, which 
approach within a few miles of its margin or inter- 
mix vv'th its navigable waters. 

3d. The improvement of the navigation of the 
Ohio river, more particularly the falls at Louis- 
ville. 

4ih The improvement of the several atlantic 
rivers, and the corresponding streams that empty 
into the iVllssissippi and Ohio rivers* 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



llillli 

028 106 137 9 



